Turnout For Turkey Trots Growing
This week's column in the Conroe Courier is online. Here's the link for your reading pleasure:
http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2008/12/03/conroe_courier/sports/webwalkcol1202.txt
[12/4/08 EDIT! -- Go to www.hcnonline.com. In the upper right hand corner, "Search our site:", enter "Jon Walk" and click on the "Search" button. Two (2) columns will appear.]
I had asked Run Thru The Woods race director Roxanne Davis for comment before turning my story in. She didn't get back to me in time; however, these were some comments that she shared with me:
Our race historically grows by several hundred each year. I think this is due to the quality of the event we put on - we listen to comments and suggestions and strive to improve on every last detail from one year to the next. We put safety and security at the top and then we want to offer an event that is fun and has something for everyone. We attract the competitive runners, the weekend warriors, the recreational runner and those that are not. Adding the 3 mile Teen Race has been a great transition for the kids that are too old for the 1 mile but not ready to run 5 miles. Speaking of the 1 mile, the fact that we time this race, just like we do the 5 mile, has received a lot of positive feedback from parents. We recognize all the kids when they cross the finish line with a medal. Everyone is a winner!
GE Run Thru the Woods is truly a holiday tradition in this community. I hear this from families all the time. I even get apologies from those that have joined us year after year, when they are not able to join us because they will be out of town!!! From those that joined us for the first time, they are full of compliments and enthusiasm and can't wait to get all the family members out there the following year. Everyone feeds off all the energy and of course the pancake breakfast that is available to all the runners has been extremely popular.
The #1 reason for our success I think is that we have something for everyone and we offer a quality family event. An event the community is proud to support.
So if you're making a Thanksgiving Day race decision for next year, here's one event's approach.
http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2008/12/03/conroe_courier/sports/webwalkcol1202.txt
[12/4/08 EDIT! -- Go to www.hcnonline.com. In the upper right hand corner, "Search our site:", enter "Jon Walk" and click on the "Search" button. Two (2) columns will appear.]
I had asked Run Thru The Woods race director Roxanne Davis for comment before turning my story in. She didn't get back to me in time; however, these were some comments that she shared with me:
Our race historically grows by several hundred each year. I think this is due to the quality of the event we put on - we listen to comments and suggestions and strive to improve on every last detail from one year to the next. We put safety and security at the top and then we want to offer an event that is fun and has something for everyone. We attract the competitive runners, the weekend warriors, the recreational runner and those that are not. Adding the 3 mile Teen Race has been a great transition for the kids that are too old for the 1 mile but not ready to run 5 miles. Speaking of the 1 mile, the fact that we time this race, just like we do the 5 mile, has received a lot of positive feedback from parents. We recognize all the kids when they cross the finish line with a medal. Everyone is a winner!
GE Run Thru the Woods is truly a holiday tradition in this community. I hear this from families all the time. I even get apologies from those that have joined us year after year, when they are not able to join us because they will be out of town!!! From those that joined us for the first time, they are full of compliments and enthusiasm and can't wait to get all the family members out there the following year. Everyone feeds off all the energy and of course the pancake breakfast that is available to all the runners has been extremely popular.
The #1 reason for our success I think is that we have something for everyone and we offer a quality family event. An event the community is proud to support.
So if you're making a Thanksgiving Day race decision for next year, here's one event's approach.
posted by WalkSports.com | 10:43 AM
1 Comments:
Jon,
You are right about the rapid growth of the Turkeys. We ran the 10k at the TXU Turkey Trot at Uptown Park, where the number of finishers increased by nearly two-thirds this year (to 2200). With the untimed 5k and kid's run participants, there were nearly 7,000 folks registered.
As an aside, we have always had problems finding your on-line articles in the Conroe Courier. They must change the links, as the link is dead. Also, nothing appears when we do an online search at the paper's website.
Ron
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